KTBB News, Weather, Talk

EAST TEXAS — If the tough economy is still making it hard for you or someone you know to find a job, Workforce Solutions East Texas is offering a chance to reconnect with the workforce. The agency will host two re-employment conferences, one in Tyler on June 22 and one in Longview on June 23, designed to polish skills and revive those affected by the recession. The Tyler conference is at Harvey Convention Center, with the Longview event set for Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex. Both run from 8:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Conference workshops include: Life Lessons…How to Achieve Business & Personal Success with Steven Zipkoff; Make Smart Career Decisions through the Career Pathways System with Hans Meeder; an Entrepreneurial Seminar with Dr. Connie Sitterly; Organizing Next with Terry Carlile; The Seven Steps to a Turnaround with Columbus Copeland; Connect the Dots networking workshop with David Crumbaugh; and Give Me Some Credit: From Recession to Progression financial management course with James Guess. The conferences are free to attend. Space is limited and registration is required to assure seating. For more information, you can email amanda.garner@etcog.org or call 903.984.8641 x224.

MANGUM, OKLA. (AP) – Jury selection continues today in the East Texas-connected trial of Bobbi Parker in Mangum, Oklahoma. Another person was placed on a panel of prospective jurors Friday in the case of the former Oklahoma prison warden’s wife accused of helping an inmate she allegedly fell in love with escape. Defense attorney Garvin Isaacs says there were 21 possible jurors on the panel when jury selection concluded Friday. Attorneys plan to pick 22 prospective jurors from which Parker’s 12-member jury will be chosen. Parker is accused of helping convicted killer Randolph Dial escape from the Oklahoma State Reformatory in 1994. Prosecutors allege she ran away with him, but defense attorneys say Dial kidnapped Parker and held her hostage until she was rescued in 2005 at a Shelby County, Texas, chicken ranch. Parker has pleaded not guilty.

TYLER — The City of Tyler is currently accepting applications from community members to serve on City boards and commissions. The deadline to apply is Aug. 5, and appointments will be made by the City Council at its Aug. 24 meeting. Persons who are appointed to serve on a City of Tyler board or commission will serve voluntarily, without pay, for a two-year term. The boards and commissions include:

Regular Boards (Boards that meet monthly or bi-monthly)

Airport Advisory Board
Historical Preservation Board
Keep Tyler Beautiful Board
Library Board
Neighborhood Revitalization Board
One-Half Cent Sales Tax Board
Parks Board
Planning and Zoning Commission
North East Texas Public Health District Board
Traffic Safety Board

Periodic Boards (Boards that meet only as needed)

Board of Adjustment (Zoning)
Civil Service Commission
Construction Board of Adjustments
Disabilities Issue Review Board
Health Facilities Development Corp.
Industrial Development Corp.

To serve on a board or commission, applicants must reside inside the City limits and should not have any delinquent City taxes, City utilities or other City assessments. In addition, they must not have any pending claims or claim against the City. There may be additional requirements for some board positions.
“This is a perfect way for citizens to plug in and get involved in shaping our community,” said Tyler Mayor Barbara Bass. “The City’s boards and commissions play a vital role in making recommendations to City Council.”

“Boards and Commissions fulfill an important role in City government by evaluating issues which affect our community and making recommendations to the Council for needed action,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “It is important that we get vacancies on the boards filled.” Anyone interested in serving can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to complete an application online. Applications can also be picked up at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall, or you can call the City Clerk at (903) 531-1106 and have an application faxed or mailed to you.

SMITH COUNTY — A teenager has died, and others have been injured, in a church van crash near Tyler. Members from a church in Louisiana were visiting an East Texas waterpark this weekend. As they were headed back home Saturday evening, their van, carrying children and adults, ran off the road.

Around 6 p.m., church members still gathered on the hill where the accident happened on I-20 near Barber Road. They tell KETK several vehicles were in a caravan coming back from the waterpark when a tire burst on the van. Witnesses say there were around 11 people in the van, and several were thrown from the vehicle. 19-year-old J’Amarco Greenard, or J.J. as his friends and family call him, was pinned under the van. Church members say he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other children and adults were taken to Tyler hospitals. Two were flown by helicopter. The church members say they are making sure friends and family in Louisiana know what happened so they can head to East Texas.

TYLER — Tyler police have arrested two suspects in three recent indecent exposure cases. Investigators have arrested 28-year-old David Humphries of Tyler for indecent exposure. On May 21, officers were notified by Sears security personnel that they had seen an individual expose himself with intent to sexually gratify himself. On May 27, officers contacted two females from Grande Hill Estates at 1505 Grande. They indicated that while they were swimming, an individual came to the pool area and exposed himself with intent to sexually gratify himself. The investigators were able to identify the suspect as 17-year-old Michael York of Flint.

Investigators have also identified Michael York (pictured) as allegedly responsible for another case of indecent exposure. Investigators have charged him with exposing himself with intent to sexually gratify himself at Cumberland Place Apartments, 2051 West Cumberland Road. Police allege he again went to the pool area and exposed himself to a female. York has been charged with two counts of class B misdemeanor indecent exposure, and David Humphries has been charged with one count of class B misdemeanor indecent exposure.

Police are reminding you to be aware of your surroundings and notify the police of any suspicious activity. In these cases, police say, you should be prepared to provide identifying information on individual suspects.

LONGVIEW — The Greater Longview United Way dipped into its reserve funds to make sure all partner agencies had the same funding allocations for 2011 as they’d had for 2010, executive director Donna Mahurin said Thursday. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, the United Way board completed its funding allocations earlier this week. Although the umbrella agency didn’t meet its campaign goal this year, the board chose not to decrease funding to the 39 programs of its 21 partner agencies, she said. The programs will receive a combined $968,697 in funding. “We didn’t miss the goal by much, but we still missed it,” Mahurin said. “However, we’ve been able to make up some of the difference through grants and other sources, so our overall impact on the community is, if anything, greater now than it has been in the past.”

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler begins a yearlong 40th anniversary celebration. The “40th Anniversary and Still Growing” kick-off started at 11 a.m. Friday in the University Center theater. The official anniversary logo was revealed, and officials presented a film retrospective of the university’s past. “UT Tyler is a truly special place with a rich history and bright future. I’m excited about what this wonderful institution has done for people all across East Texas, and what it will continue to do,” President Dr. Rodney Mabry said. Other events throughout the year, including a Founders Dinner, will incorporate the anniversary theme.

UT Tyler was founded on June 10, 1971 as Tyler State College. The school was renamed Texas Eastern University in 1975 and then joined the UT System in 1979 as a result of action by the 66th Texas Legislature. Originally an upper-division and graduate institution, UT Tyler began educating freshman and sophomore students in 1998, creating a complete university with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Doctoral degrees were added in 2007 and 2011. Visit http://www.uttyler.edu/anniversary for more information.

JEFFERSON — A man charged with murder is released this week. Marion County authorities said bond for 49-year-old Troy Long was reduced from $275,000 to $10,000 because of his heart condition. Long is charged with murder in the death of 24-year-old Donte Mitchell, who was dating Long’s daughter. Mitchell was found dead May 13 with a gunshot wound to his neck after a domestic disturbance at Long’s house. Long doesn’t have a history of repeated violent offenses and officials don’t believe Long is a flight risk. Jury selection is set Aug. 23.

HENDERSON — Sadler’s Smokehouse in Henderson confirms 500,000 gallons of wastewater spills into a local waterway. A barrier collapsed at a waste water facility earlier this week. According to KETK, the facility holds wastewater with leftover grease and animal by-products. Residents who live near the plant have been complaining about its smell. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been investigating the stench for weeks, and the city of Henderson is also investigating the contaminated water.

TYLER – Michael Shanklin, Executive Director for the Discovery Science Place, announced to the museum board of directors that he has accepted the position of CEO at the Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena, Califirnia, as of August 1. Shanklin is a native of the southern California area, and the move will allow him to move closer to his family. DSP officials say it is also an outstanding opportunity to work with one of the premier children’s museums in the area.

“It was very bittersweet to hear of the future plans for Michael and his family,” expressed Colleen Colby, President of the Discovery Science Place Board of Directors. “We are happy that he has found a position that allows him to be closer to his ailing father while allowing him to further his career goals of educating young children, but he will be missed as a part of the Discovery Science Place family.”

Making his way to East Texas from the Discovery Gateway museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, Shanklin came to Discovery Science Place in April, 2008. Under his direction, Discovery Science Place added over 10 new exhibits with several new exhibits pending, updated an exhibit gallery, completed a lobby and courtyard remodel, and was recognized as one of the Top 25 Science Centers in the nation by Parents magazine. In 2009, Discovery Science Place was named Best Downtown Business by the Texas Downtown Business Association. Shanklin has been a member of The Tyler Rotary Club, a Leadership Tyler graduate and an Ex-Officio with Heart of Tyler Board. He has also served on the Smith County Child Welfare Board and with the Star Canyon Home Owners Association.

To celebrate the accomplishments of Shanklin and his museum team over the past three years, the community will be invited to attend a special celebration on Sunday, July 10, 2011. More details regarding the event will be announced as the date draws near.

The Discovery Science Place board of director’s is forming a committee, led by Board President-Elect Henry Bell, which will perform a nationwide search for a new executive director of the 18-year old hands-on museum. “We are fortunate that, with Michael’s leadership, the board of directors and the museum staff have a clear vision and plan for Discovery Science Place,” explained Bell. “This will allow us to continue the business of providing museum guests with an engaging and fun hands-on environment while searching for the most appropriate leader for one of the Tyler area’s best informal educational destinations.”

According to press materials, Discovery Science Place is a non-profit, hands-on learning environment whose purpose is to open young minds to science, technology, math and cultures in order to meet the challenges of the future. Located at 308 N. Broadway in downtown Tyler, the museum is supported by grants, donations, admissions, memberships and special events. For more information, visit the website at http://www.discoveryscienceplace.org or call (903) 533-8011.

ANGELINA COUNTY — A Huntington Volunteer firefighter died battling a blaze in a wooded area behind his home Thursday afternoon off Billy Clark Road in Huntington. David Goins, 47, was found dead by a Texas Forest Service spotter plane out investigating smoke in the area. The forest service then contacted the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office.

Goins started his career with the city of Lufkin, and had been a volunteer with Huntington since 1988, holding the titles of lieutenant, captain and lastly, assistant chief, Huntington Volunteer Fire Chief Jerry LaSalle said.

Goins leaves behind three sons and a multitude of family and friends, Clark said. Angelina County Sheriff Kent Henson said an autopsy has been ordered.

TYLER — Tyler Police were called to East Texas Medical Center emergency room around 2:30 Friday morning in reference to an aggravated assaulted at Lake Tyler. The victim claims he met a man at a gas station and invited him to join his family at the Hwy 64 East boat ramp. He claims he did not know the suspect.

Officers say while at the boat ramp the victim said the suspect made several sexually suggestive comments about his family members. The victim claims he decided leave when he was struck by a white Jetta, reportedly driven by the suspect. The victim was treated for serious, but non life-threaten injuries. Authorities are searching for the suspect described as white male, 5’0″, 100 pounds and about 25 years old.

Anyone with information about the suspect involved in this crime is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers, at 903-597-CUFF.

TYLER — During the recent Click It or Ticket enforcement program, officers for the Tyler Police Department working specifically on that initiative wrote a total of 110 citations for seat belt violations and 10 citations for child safety seat violations. That’s according to statistics released Thursday. The statewide program, in which violators were stopped for not wearing their seat belts, ran from May 23 through June 5.

Texas law requires every person sitting in the front or rear seat of a vehicle to wear a safety belt. A child less than eight years old and less than four feet, nine inches tall must be secured in a child safety seat. Drivers can be stopped and ticketed for a safety belt violation if they, or any of their passengers under the age of 15, are not buckled up or properly restrained. Traffic fines for failing to use a seat belt or secure a child in a safety seat can run from $25 to $200, plus court costs.

REESE — Two people killed in a head-on collision west of Jacksonville have been identified as Patricia DeLuna, 17, Jacksonville and Donald Duhon, 74, Wills Point. According to officials, one car was traveling eastbound and the other westbound on Highway 175 near the Reese community when they slammed into each other. Troopers believe the man’s vehicle swerved into the lane where the girl’s vehicle was traveling, but they are not sure why at this time.

TYLER — Information from the Texas Comptroller indicates that City of Tyler sales tax revenues deposited for the month of June have increased 6.46 percent as compared to May 2011, resulting in a 3.47 percent cumulative year-to-date increase. The reported revenue of $2,634,914.84 comprises $1,756,609.88 general sales tax revenue and $878,304.94 half-cent sales tax revenue. The figures represent receipts from April 2011 collections as there is a two-month lag before taxes are reported and remitted back to the City from the State.

“We continue to see steady, incremental growth in our sales tax revenues as compared to where we were last year,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “The relatively greater increase for this month largely reflects an adjustment for prior collections, which means that the last few months’ collections were artificially low. Bottom line, we are up 3.47 percent so far versus the conservative 2 percent growth forecasted.”

The City is already into its 2011-2012 budget preparation cycle. Officials say individual departments have prepared budgets that were submitted to the City Manager in May, and staff-level budget hearings will take place throughout June; the final proposed budget will be presented to the City Council on August 10. “Although sales tax collections continue to increase, we anticipate this will be another tight budget year. We made many cuts last year to offset significantly lower revenue – without dramatically affecting service levels,” added McDaniel. “We are still recovering from those cuts in staffing and the delay of projects. Basically, we will be looking at a ‘maintenance budget’ with no new programming or costly initiatives.”